Policy and environmental interventions can also make preschool and child care more conducive to physical activity. Researchers recommend that centers train teachers in integrating physical activity into learning in order to most effectively increase children’s physical activity (Ward DS, Vaughn A, McWilliams C, Hales D. Interventions for increasing physical activity at child care. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2010;42(3):526–34.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Ward 2010).

Impact on Disparities

No impact on disparities likely

Implementation Examples

Most preschoolers do not reach recommended physical activity levels in child care; the center a child attends accounts for roughly half of the variation in his or her physical activity overall. Head Start centers are required to meet federal nutrition standards, but most states lack strong nutrition or physical activity requirements for child care centers. Tennessee, Delaware, Georgia, and Indiana require the most of child care centers while Idaho, Washington, and Nebraska do not regulate physical activity or nutrition standards in preschools (Larson N, Ward DS, Neelon SB, Story M. What role can child-care settings play in obesity prevention? A review of the evidence and call for research efforts. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2011;111(9):1343–62.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Larson 2011).

Citations - Evidence

* Journal subscription may be required for access.

Larson 2011* - Larson N, Ward DS, Neelon SB, Story M. What role can child-care settings play in obesity prevention? A review of the evidence and call for research efforts. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2011;111(9):1343–62.

Citations - Implementation Examples

* Journal subscription may be required for access.

Larson 2011* - Larson N, Ward DS, Neelon SB, Story M. What role can child-care settings play in obesity prevention? A review of the evidence and call for research efforts. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2011;111(9):1343–62.

Date Last Updated

May 22, 2014

Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.

Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.

Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.

Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.

Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.

Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results.